When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I bought this Road King last year and love it! The only down side is the bars are so large its hard to control in NYC during tight corners and stopping/starting a lot.
Currently has 16" bars with all the supporting wiring and cables installed and I am asking YOU what's a good height to gain more control and bring the center of gravity back to normal? I am not afraid to install stock height bars but like a little bit of lift.
I dont have any of the stock wiring or cables so all of it needs to be purchased and I am assuming all the internal wiring will need to be shortened to accommodate a lower bar.
I've had the OEM handlebars replaced on my last THREE H-D's.
I have no idea of who or how MOCO determines their seat-to-hand grip dimensions but it sure as H**L ain't for people like me.
I'm 6'-2" and have a 32" inseam but I have a long torso so I sit a bit higher in the seat than most people of my height who usually have longer legs than me.
After many years of riding my '00 Ultra with optional (they may have been H-D "Tallboy" bars but I'm not sure) when I first sat on the '13 CVO Ultra that I eventually purchased, I realized immediately that those bars had to go!
A one-day, 500 roundtrip run confirmed that for me! My upper back and neck was killing me!
A set/pair of W.O.'s (577's) did the trick for me and I may have been just as happy with the lower (578's).
The same for my '18 Tri-Glide.
I went with adjustable Heli-bars and they fit me like a pair of well-broken in gloves.
H-D should offer some flexibility on handlebar/windshield height instead of a "one size fits all" and even if it involved a little more cost but at least we wouldn't have to throw parts away and purchase replacement parts.
Noticing many of you are taller and so was the person who had the bike before me!
I am 5'9" with a 29" inseam so a bit on the shorter side. The 16" bars fit good and feel great when riding, even for long distances but my issue is control. If I have an abrupt stop at a light and bars are turned it wants to go over and I have had to fight to the death to hold it up. If it had bars that were lower with a better geometry it would be much easier to control.
Sometimes I rent a road glide in Florida to cruise around St. Petersburg area and the bike is all stock and drives like a dream compared to my King.
I like the 12" Mini apes and heritage style and am not going to go back to stock based on everyone's recommendations!
Bar height and comfort are very individual. Your seat and torso size will make a big difference. However you mentioned control. Watch any video on Youtube of a police maneuver competition and you will see that for ultimate control the bars have to place your forearms parallel to the ground. So that is a low bar. My Road King has Wild One Chubby WO518 Road King II bars and I love the control. I am 6 foot with 31" inseam and have the Harley Hammock seat. For me the bars are quite comfortable as they come back far enough that I don't "reach".
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.
Swapping Bars for more comfort
